Well, here's my first ever post to the FFML! Please, anybody who reads this, 
feel free to send me any C&C you've got (no flames, though >_< - I accept 
constructive criticism, NOT insults).
- Morgan Hudson


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-- Name   : kunos_choice.txt
                                    	KUNO�S CHOICE
                         by Morgan Hudson (dataraven_659@hotmail.com)

OBLIGATORY DISCLAIMER : As if you didn't know, Ranma 1/2 is the creation of Rumiko Takahashi. 
It is currently owned by Viz Video and Viz Comics, as well as Kitty Video in Japan. All of 
the characters here are copyrighted, trademarked, and completely NOT MINE. So please don't 
sue me, okay, Takahashi-sama? Arigato.
	
	He loved her. That, thought Tatewaki Kuno, had made all the difference in the 
world. When he factored that into the equation, his doubts had faded. Now, as he walked 
towards her desk, he felt his heart pounding as it never had in battle. 
	He was dressed not in his gi, clutched not his bokken, for this was not a task for a 
samurai. He had to approach her as a man, not a warrior, and thus let her know his intent 
was pure and honest. 
	She looked up as he approached, and his breath stopped. Hands shaking 
nervously, he handed her the paper. He knew he was no poet, but his love had needed 
expression, and he trusted not his own voice.
	The beautiful girl read each line impassively, and his palms began to sweat. Had 
he chosen the wrong words to express himself? Was his poem inadequate? Was... was 
HE inadequate? 
	She met his eyes, tears flowing down her cheeks. "Oh... oh, TACCHI!" she cried, 
and lunged into his arms as the whole class - nay, the whole SCHOOL - watched, and he 
embraced her passionately, letting them all know that the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High 
had finally chosen his one true love. 
	His despised father was watching, as was the wretched Ranma Saotome, and 
Kuno felt the envy in their glares. He snorted. Men�s eyes were made to gaze, and let 
them look, he thought as he kissed the top of his love�s head. I shall budge for no man�s 
pleasure, I. 
	"Oh, Tatewaki..." his goddess murmered as Akane Tendo and the pig-tailed girl 
both left, their heads hanging in defeat, "I�ve always loved you... Kuno-chan."
	Kuno-chan...
		Kuno...
			Chan...
**********
	"Kuno-chan! You awake yet?" Tatewaki groaned in response as consciousness 
was once again forced upon him. There was some kind of cool cloth over his eyes, but a 
samurai relied on other senses. The antiseptic smell told him he was in the infirmary, and 
the dull ache in his head reminded him why. A pair of delicate hands gently removed the 
cloth from his eyes and he eagerly waited for her face to come into focus. His angel of mercy.
 His one true love.
	Nabiki Tendo stared down at him in disbelief. "You know, Kuno-chan, if you�re 
going to insist on fighting Ranma all the time, you really should learn to duck." She wrung out 
the wet facecloth and dropped it in a nearby bowl. 
	"I assure you, Nabiki Tendo, I remain in perfect health." Kuno turned his face 
away from her. "Ranma Saotome�s day of judgement will come, and then shall I claim 
both Akane Tendo and the pig-tailed goddess at last."
	"Right." Nabiki sounded less than enthused. "Well, I�M late for OUR history class. Glad 
to see you�re back to normal!" With that, she turned and raced out of the room. 
**********
	As soon as she left the infirmary, Nabiki pressed her back against the cool cement wall 
and buried her face in her hands. That stupid jerk! What was so damned great about Akane, anyway?
 And the pig-tailed girl was just dumb old Ranma! He wasn�t even a real girl! What was WRONG with 
Tatewaki Kuno? Why couldn�t he see that neither of them wanted him?
	Why couldn�t he see how much she DID? 
	She sniffed, and wiped the moisture from her eyelashes. This wouldn�t do. Nabiki Tendo 
NEVER cried. Not where anyone could see her. Besides, she had a history class to get to, and 
that big, handsome dummy would need SOMEONE to pull his ass out of the fire when the teacher 
asked him a question. 
	She would maintain her charade, act cool and mercenary and uncaring, until he finally 
admitted his error and confessed his love for her, and her alone. 
	Nabiki sighed and picked up her books. Yeah, right, and then pigs would fly. Kuno the 
pervert was back to normal...
**********
	"Not quite back to normal, Nabiki Tendo," Tatewaki whispered as he sat brooding on his 
cot in the infirmary, "not until I hold you in my arms."
	He toyed with the idea of chasing her back to class, and demonstrating in no uncertain 
terms EXACTLY how he felt about her, and to hell with anyone who was watching. He even rose to 
his feet with that very intention in mind.
	But no. His love could not be expressed properly with such crude words and clumsy 
actions, lest his intentions be suspect. Reluctantly, he sat back down on his cot. His feelings 
for Nabiki Tendo could not even be entrusted to the words of his beloved Shakespeare. There was 
but one pen he could trust to properly express the depths of his love. 
	He would maintain his charade, act cool and disinterested and uncaring. At least, he 
thought as he pulled a well-worn piece of folded paper from his pocket and reached once more for 
his pen, until he had finished the poem.
         
                                           -FIN-